Patent application title: BACKPACK FOR SNOW SKIS AND BOOTS

Abstract:

A backpack shell construction having a stiff back panel supporting storage
compartments projecting outwardly therefrom and carried on the user's
back by a pair of shoulder straps and further secured to the user by a
waist strap, to which shell a pair of tandem collapsible boot shelves or
platforms are integrated at lower corner portions and an outer ski
carrier and helmet mounting panel is hingedly attached to the front face
of the backpack shell.

Claims:

1. A backpack for skiing gear comprising:(a) a shell having a rigid back
wall, a bottom wall, a top wall, a front wall, and opposite side walls
defining a closed stowage space;(b) a collapsible ski boot receptacle
secured to external surfaces of said side walls at lower portions
thereof;(c) said ski boot receptacle including a pyramidal-shaped pouch
element having a three-sided pouch wall portion having a vertical edge, a
horizontal edge and a third edge extending therebetween;(d) the vertical
edge of said pouch wall portion fastened to the shell;(e) zipper means
selectively connecting the remaining edge of the pouch wall portion to
the shell and whereby the pouch element forms a flattened pouch with the
shell; and(f) foldable platform gusset means attached to the horizontal
edge of the pouch wall portion and the shell, whereby upon unzipping said
zipper means and folding the pouch wall portion outwardly therefrom, a
boot receptacle adapted to engage and support a boot is established
externally of the shell.

2. The backpack of claim 1, further characterized in that(a) at least one
fastening strap with a locking buckle is connected to said pouch element
along said remaining edge portion; and(b) at least one anchor buckle
adapted to engage and to secure said locking buckle is attached to the
shell proximate to said pouch element.

3. The backpack of claim 1, in which(a) a bonnet means adapted to close
the top of a boot is secured to the shell by a tether; and(b) said bonnet
is adapted to be stored.

4. A backpack for skiing gear comprising:(a) a shell having a rigid back
wall, a bottom wall, a top wall, a front wall, and opposite side walls
defining a closed stowage space;(b) an auxiliary ski-harness panel having
upper and lower portions is hinged to the front wall of the shell;(c) the
lower portion is substantially rigid and defines an elongated ski port
therein;(d) the width of said port exceeding the back-to-back depth of a
pair of skis but being less than the depth of bindings on the skis;(e)
harness anchor buckle means attached to the top of said shell;(f) ski
strap means attached to the shell front wall and adapted to engage and
secure juxtaposed skis to said front wall;(g) the upper portion of said
ski harness panel being hinged to the lower ski harness portion and
adapted to engage skis positioned between the shell front wall and the
ski harness panel;(h) adjustable harness strap means attached to the
upper portion of said ski harness panel and having buckle means adapted
to mate with said harness anchor buckle means; and(i) whereby a pair of
skis with bindings may be secured to the backpack with the load
transferred through said ski harness panel.

5. The backpack of claim 4, further including:(a) adjustable compression
strap means extending between the ski harness panel and the back wall of
the shell;(b) said compression strap means being adapted to tighten the
load between said harness panel and said back wall.

7. The backpack of claim 6, in which:(a) said tethering means includes an
elastomeric bungee cord and adapted to apply tensioning force to said
stash panel means.

8. The backpack of claim 7, including:(a) cord guide means secured to the
harness panel in tandem and in lateral relation to said stash panel
means;(b) said bungee cord means being supported in said guide means.

9. The backpack of claim 7, in which:(a) said bungee cord means is in the
form of a closed loop;(b) portions of said loop extend through and behind
said ski harness panel; and(c) cord locking means receiving portions of
said loop extending therethrough;(d) whereby the effective size of the
cord loop may be adjusted by the positioning of the cord locking means to
change the tensioning force.

Description:

[0002]The state of the backpack art is well-developed and includes
teachings of various sizes, shapes, and carrying strap configurations to
accommodate specific loading situations and particular equipment to be
transported including sporting goods and the like. For example, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,881,708 is directed to an arrangement for carrying bulky, heavy
footwear such as ice skates and ski boots. U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,883 is
directed to a fanny-pack with a shoulder harness allowing a skier to
carry skis on the body. U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,159 is directed to a
combination skis and boot bag suitable for hand carriage as a piece of
luggage. U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,201 shows a backpack with a headgear
mounting flap. Quick-release buckle hardware for usage in backpacks is
shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,027,481 and 5,309,610.

[0003]Despite the many developments in backpacks, there remains a need for
an efficient carrier of skis, boots and other ski clothing or ski
equipment, including helmets, which backpack is lightweight, easy to pack
and unpack, and comfortable to use.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0004]A new and improved backpack is provided which essentially includes a
basic backpack shell construction, one having a stiff back panel
supporting storage compartments projecting outwardly therefrom and
carried on the user's back by a pair of shoulder straps and further
secured to the user by a waist strap, to which basic shell a pair of
tandem collapsible boot shelves or platforms are integrated at lower
corner portions and an outer ski carrier and helmet mounting panel is
hingedly attached to the front face of the basic backpack shell.

[0005]Specifically, the boot platforms are formed by a hinged, deployable
boot wing panel which folds out from the shell to deploy a gusset
extending between the shell and the boot wing panel. Fastening straps
sewn to the inner surfaces of the boot wing panels include quick-release
buckles which engage mating quick-release anchors on the shell to hold
ski boots securely in place against the shell on the platforms.
Advantageously, waterproof bonnets secured to the wing panels are
provided to cover the open tops of the ski boots.

[0006]The auxiliary panel is specially configured to support and to secure
a pair of skis with binders between the backpack shell and the inner
surfaces of the auxiliary panel while permitting the lower extremities of
the skis to project downwardly through an opening in the panel.

[0007]The outer surface of the auxiliary panel has a specially configured
cushioned support system with an adjustable, bungee cord-tensioned stash
panel for securing a hard ski helmet or other equipment/clothing to the
front of the backpack.

[0008]For a more complete description of the invention and a better
appreciation of its attendant advantages, reference should be made to the
accompanying drawings along with the following detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the new and improved backpack of the
present invention in a closed condition without skis and ski boots loaded
thereon;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the new backpack with skis, ski
boots and a ski helmet loaded thereon;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the ski boot platform deployed
to receive a ski boot;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the new ski backpack with the
auxiliary ski-securing panel unfolded to permit loading of skis;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the new backpack with skis loaded
thereon prior to closing the auxiliary front panel; and

[0014]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the backpack with the skis
loaded thereon and the auxiliary front panel secured with skis projecting
beyond the uppermost and lowermost portions of the new backpack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015]The new backpack 10, as shown in FIG. 1, has a reinforced, stiffened
back panel 11 which is a single, large, full height-full width panel
defining the overall profile of the backpack and having an upper
horizontal edge 12, side edges 13 and a lowermost edge (not visible in
FIG. 1).

[0016]A pair of spaced shoulder straps 14 are secured symmetrically at the
upper and lower sides of the rear panel 11 for carrying the backpack on
the shoulders of a user in known and conventional fashion. A simple
handle 15 is secured at the upper portions of the rear panel for lifting
and carrying the backpack as hand luggage. A bottom wall panel 17 extends
from the rear wall 11 to the front of the backpack 10 and has an upwardly
extending lip 18 to which a zip-opening, lower stash pouch 49 is
integrally connected. A generally U-shaped side wall panel 20 having a
top wall 21 and side walls 22 extends from the edges of the bottom panel
17 upwardly and around and back downwardly to the edges of the bottom
panel 17 to establish the sides of the backpack. An interior full-depth
wall (not shown) extends for the full depth of the backpack and together
with the bottom wall 17, the side walls 22, top wall 21 and rear wall 11
defines a major stowage compartment of the backpack which stowage
compartment is indicated by numeral 30. This major stowage compartment 30
is accessed through a zipper closure 31 which extends along the top edge
of the backpack and down one vertical side thereof. If desired, the inner
surfaces of the major stowage compartment 30 may be provided with
additional pockets and/or holding straps as desired or deemed necessary
to secure equipment of a skier/hiker. An upper stash pouch 38 with a
central zipper 39 for access is sewn to the top wall 21 as shown in FIGS.
1, 2 and 4.

[0017]A minor stowage compartment 32 is formed adjacent and integrally
with the major stowage compartment 30 by a front wall 33 which extends
upwardly from the stash pouch 18 and is sewn along its side edges 36 and
upper edge 37 to a circumscribing wall 34, as shown in FIG. 4. The minor
stowage compartment 32 is accessed by a U-shaped zipper 35 which divides
the wall 34 and provides access to the minor stowage compartment 32. As
described thus far, it will be appreciated that the overall shell of the
backpack 10 is of generally conventional construction having stowage
compartments formed by a supporting back panel 11, a bottom panel 17,
side panels 21, 22, 34 and front panel 33.

[0018]In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a new
and improved backpack construction is established for carrying both snow
skis and ski boots as well as a rigid ski helmet (or other
equipment/clothing) by the provision of special deployable ski boot
platforms 71 stored in boot platform pouches 50 and an auxiliary front or
ski harness panel 51. The lower edge 52 of the ski harness panel 51 is
sewn to and hinged along the lower edge of the front backpack panel 33.
In accordance with the invention, the panel 51 has an elongated U-shaped
port 53 formed at the bottom thereof. The width "W" of the port is
slightly greater than the back-to-back thickness of a sandwiched pair of
skis "S" to be carried but substantially less than the dimensions of ski
bindings "B" mounted on the skis. The edges of the open port 53 are
reinforced by welting 54 sewn along the edges thereof. The upper edge of
the ski harness panel is concave in shape terminating at oblique edge
portions 55 to which quick-release hardware sockets 56 are securely
mounted. The locking sockets are adapted to engage mating quick-release
locking hardware blades 57 attached adjacent the rear top edges of the
backpack by adjustable length straps 57a.

[0019]All of the quick-release hardware shown and described herein is of
the type having one piece molded male members with fingers engaging a
hollow female socket. The male members have a central elongate guide 100
and twin compressible, resilient fingers 86 (FIG. 3) projecting from a
body portion usually including a locking bar in a slot through which a
web strap may be threaded. The effective length of the web strap may be
adjusted in known manner such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,610,
incorporated herein by reference. The fingers of the male member are
quickly engageable or releasable by from a one-piece molded plastic
mating socket having slots for engaging and holding the ends of the
fingers. This hardware is well-known to the art and need not be described
in additional detail. Hereinafter, reference will be made to
quick-release buckles or hardware.

[0020]The ski harness panel 51 is divided into an upper section 58 and a
lower section 59 along a flexible hinge seam 60. Advantageously, the
upper portion 58 is made of two comparatively flexible fabric layers,
front face 102 and rear face 102a, sewn together about the periphery
102b. A grommet 110 is secured to reinforce an opening at the top of
panel 58 while a grommet 111 is secured in an opening at the bottom of
the panel, both providing access between the layers 102, 102a.

[0021]The lower portion 59 containing the ski port 53 is made of
comparatively more rigid, non-elastic material which may be appropriately
stiffened or reinforced. In accordance with the invention, the entire
panel 51 may be hinged along the hinge line 52 in the manner shown in
FIG. 4 to prepare the backpack for loading of the skis. The front panel
33 of the backpack contains or otherwise mounts at its upper portions an
adjustable ski securing strap 61 with hooked and looped fastening tape
("Velcro") portions 61a, 61b and a tightening buckle 62 which are mounted
to the front panel by an appropriate triangular clip 63 and mounting
strip 64.

[0022]Cushioning pads 65 of elastomeric foam material are sewn into or
otherwise incorporated with the front panel 33 for both engaging the
carried skis and providing protection to the contents of the minor
stowage compartment 32.

[0023]As an important part of the invention, ski boots may be carried
externally of the shell of the backpack as shown in FIG. 2 by deploying a
ski boot support system shown in FIG. 3 comprised of a ski boot platform
71 in the nature of a gusset sewn on its inner end to the bottom of the
backpack shell along a seam 72 and sewn on its opposite side along a seam
73 to the outer wall of a ski boot pouch panel 74. The pouch panel 74 is
generally pyramidal or three-dimensional in shape and is connected by a
zipper 75 to an inner boot pouch wall 76. The pouch panel 74 includes a
lowermost portion 74a which is deployable in the horizontal plane of the
gusset 71 (to support the heel of a ski boot) and a vertical wall portion
74b (to engage the back of the ski boot). A reinforcing corner piece 74c
of durable fabric is sewn to the rear lower portion of the pouch panel
74.

[0024]A fabric layer 77 overlays the panel 76 to form a flat sleeve 78
therebetween in which a flexible, waterproof ski boot bonnet 79 is
stored. The bonnet 79 is in the nature of a flexible shower cap having an
elastic band 80 at its bottom which may be expanded to stretch over the
open top of the ski boot as will be explained hereinafter. The ski boot
bonnet 79 is permanently attached to the panel 76 by an elastic cord 81
to prevent its being separated and lost. Under normal circumstances, when
the ski boots are not being carried, the bonnet 79 is merely folded and
inserted in the sleeve 78 as will be understood.

[0025]The ski boot support system further includes fastening straps 82, 83
which are sewn to the pouch panel 74 and include male quick-release
hardware members 85, 86 at their free ends. The effective lengths of the
straps 82, 83 can be adjusted by lengthening or shortening them
effectively through bars in the bodies of the quick-release locking
members 85, 86 in known fashion. The quick-release locking members 85, 86
when deployed are adapted to be connected to mating socket hardware 87,
88, respectively, which are mounted at lower portions of the backpack
adjacent the boot panel 74. A mirror image deployable boot support system
is formed on the opposite side of the backpack for mounting the second
ski boot of the user as will be understood.

[0026]Adjacent the lowermost portions of the back panel are wings 100
(only one of which is shown) which mount waist belts 101 which extend
forwardly from the wings 100 and include quick-release hardware at the
free end thereof (not shown). The waist belts 101 may be cinched at the
waist portions of the wearer to further secure the backpack to the user
after the shoulder straps have been put on the user and the load carried.
The waist belts 101 are of generally conventional construction as are the
shoulder straps and provide the means by which the entire backpack 10 is
secured to the skier carrying the load of the backpack 10.

[0027]The face 102 along with the upper portion 58 of the ski harness
panel 51 forms yet another equipment pocket 104 which may be accessed by
a circumscribing zipper 105.

[0028]As a further feature of the invention, the front face 102 of the
auxiliary panel 51 mounts in adjustable spaced relation thereto a
cushioned stash panel 103 which is tethered to the ski harness panel 51
by a unique bungee cord arrangement. A locking buckle 120 is secured
hingedly to the upper portions of the stash panel by a sewn tab 121. A
grommet 112 is mounted on an anchor strap 122 sewn in slightly spaced
relation to the face of the panel 103 by lines of stitching 123, 124, the
stitching 124 also securing a circumscribing welting 125.

[0029]The bungee arrangement is formed by a closed or "endless"
elastomeric bungee cord loop 131 extending from a hardware tab 130
through a first cord guide 132 on fabric web tab 133 sewn to lower corner
of the panel 102 then through cord lock 134 having spring-loaded cord
clamp 135. From the lock 134, the cord 131 continues through the grommet
112 then back down and through the grommet 111 entering the space between
the layers 102, 102a. The cord continues upwardly and back out from
between the layers 102, 102a through the grommet 110 and goes through a
sewn loop 136 formed at the upper end of a web tab 137 having a male
locking buckle 138 secured to its lower end through a separate sewn loop
139.

[0030]The cord 131 after passing through the loop 136 is threaded back
through the grommet 110 and extends downwardly between the layers 102,
102a and out through the grommet 111. From there, the cord 131 continues
behind the strap 122 and back out through the grommet 112 and through the
cord lock 134 from where it extends through a second cord guide 140 and
back into the hardware tab 130 forming the bungee loop.

[0031]With the hardware 138, 120 connected, the stash panel 103 is
floatingly spaced from the front panel 102 by the endless bungee loop
131, the tension of which can be readily adjusted by increasing or
decreasing the size of the loop by pulling on the tab 130 after releasing
the cord clamp 135 and then reclamping the cord at a desired size as will
be described hereafter with regard to securing a helmet to the backpack
shell by sandwiching it between the stash panel 103 and front panel 102.

[0032]In use, all the backpack stowage compartments and stash pouches of
the backpack shell may be loaded with ski gear through the zippered
access thereto as will be readily understood. After the gear is loaded,
snow skis, ski boots, and a hard helmet may be simply and quickly loaded,
in accordance with the principles of the invention, as follows.

[0033]Ski boots may be externally secured on each side of the bottom of
the gear-loaded backpack by unzipping the zipper 75 and pulling the boot
pouch panel 74 outwardly away from the backpack shell. In so doing, the
gusset platform 71, advantageously formed of two panels 71a, 71b joined
by a welt 72c, is deployed between the walls 74, 76. Drainage ports 91
are formed in the gusset. The pouch panel portions 74, 74a, 74b, along
with the gusset platform 71, and panel 76 form a frontwardly open boot
pouch. A ski boot can then be supported in the boot pouch with its heel
on the platform 71 and portion 74a and its ankle portions between the
panels 74, 76 with the back of the boot against portion 74b. The boot may
then be firmly secured in place by straps 82, 83, whose length may be
adjusted by the openings 85a, 86a in the buckle hardware 85, 86. The
buckles 85, 86 are locked to mating hardware sockets 87, 88 on the
backpack shell (FIG. 2).

[0034]Thus, it will be appreciated that the bulky and heavy ski boots may
be carried externally of the internally stowed gear which is especially
important when the boots may be dirty and damp from snow and/or
perspiration after usage. To keep the tops of the stowed boots closed and
safe from the elements during transport, the bonnet 79 may be removed
from storage and placed over the boot tops and held lightly by the
elastic band 80. The tether 81 keeps the bonnet from being lost.

[0035]To load a pair of skis to the backpack shell, the auxiliary panel 59
is folded outwardly exposing the front panel 33 and the securing strap
61. The bottom portion of skis are projected through the port 53 with the
bindings "B" prevented from passing through the port 53 and
advantageously supported by the reinforced or stiffened panel portion 59
when the auxiliary panel is folded upwardly and toward the front panel 33
as shown in FIG. 6. The upper portions of the skis are locked against the
panel 33 and the cushioned portions 65 by tightening the straps 61 around
the skis and beneath the bindings "B."

[0036]To secure the skis in place, the auxiliary panel is buckled tightly
at its upper ends through hardware 56 to mating hardware 57 on adjustable
length straps 57a. The entire packed shell as well as the mounted skis
are further secured and tightened by adjustable compression straps 150,
152, having a locking buckle which mates with complementary hardware 152
on web 153 extending from the back panel 11.

[0037]With the boots and skis loaded onto the backpack through the new and
improved construction, a ski helmet or other gear may be mounted on the
auxiliary panel itself by clamping the helmet or other gear between the
stash panel 103 and the front face 102 of the auxiliary ski-securing
panel. The panel 103 is flexible enough to conform generally to the
contours of a helmet or other rigid gear and the tension by which the
panel 103 is urged toward the face 102 may be adjusted by variations in
the effective length of the bungee cord 131. The cord itself in its
exposed lower portions between the cord lock 122 and cord guides 132, 140
provides additional support. The quick release and/or quick reloading of
gear may be effected by the uncoupling or recoupling of the quick release
hardware 120, 138.

[0038]It will be appreciated that the new and improved ski gear backpack
provides effective and efficient attachment of skis, boots, and helmets
or other bulky gear to a backpack shell. The new construction permits
quick and easy loading and unloading of the equipment required for
skiing.

[0039]It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the
invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be
representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without
departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly,
reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining
the full scope of the invention.